Method and machine for making plate electrodes



Dec. 10, 1929. H. DE F. MADDEN ET AL 1,738,6581

METOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PLATE ELECTRODES Filed June 17. 1925 3Sheets-Sheet l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HAR/2 Y 0- /YADDE/V Dec. l0,1929. H. DE F. MADDEN ETAL' METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PLATEELECTRODES Y Filed June 17, 1925 H. DE F. MADDEN ETAL 1,738,658

Dec. 1o, 1929.

' METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING PLATE ELECTRODES 5 lSheets-snaai 3Fleoyune 17 1925 D6 v.. RAR E OM/ N T K R N O Won n NYP YA IRE atentedDec. l0, 1929 Unirse stares wat-55e entrar .carica HARRY nn FORESTMADDEN, 0F MONTCLAIR, Ann sosnrrr mannen NEWARK, .NEW

JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO PENNSYLVANA WESTIVNGHoUsE LAMP company, AjconroItnTIon on METHOD AND MAcmNnjFon MAKING PLATE nLncTnonnsApplication led June 17, 1525.l Serial No. 37,6911.

This invention relates to the manufacture of electrical devices such asradiotrons and more particularly to the production of a plate anodetherefor.

ln the manufacture of the various elements of a radio tube aconsiderable degree of accuracy is required and in tubes of the typewhich employ' a plate or anode of tubular form, it is especiallydesirable to so construct the plate that the dimensions thereof willremain uniform throughout the manufacture of large quantities of thearticle.V

The type of anode to which the present invention relates vmay be of anydesired' con` figuration in cross section but is preferably ofcylindrical form having longitudinal eX- ternal flanges for engagementwith a support Wire upon Which the anode 1s subsequently mounted. Itwill be understood that an anode 1 of this typevvhen in vits operativeposition within a radio tube, surrounds a grid and in order to maintainuniform characteristics of a tube, it is essential that the diameter ofthe anodes be uniform so that the spacing between the positioned anodeand the grid Will not vary. Furthermore, it is desirable to producethesefelectrodes at a relatively high rate of speed and an object of thepresent invention is, therefore, to provide a machine which will operateto automatically produce radiotron plates or anodes in an efficient,accurate and more expeditious manner than has heretofore been attained.

Another object of theinvention is to pro` vide a machine to which astrip of metal may be automatically fed and formed into plates Withoutthe constant attendance of an operator. Y

Another object of the invention is to automatically form a strip ofmetal to provide a tubular electrode and to lsever the same intoaccurate predetermined lengths.

A further .obj ect of the invention is to provide a machine for theproduction of a tubular eleetrede by a combined roller and formingoperation'.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine whichWill operate to intermittently feed a strip of metal to forming membersto partially shape the same to plate form and subsequently sever asection of said formed metal and finally press the same to.

The present embodiment of the invention may comprise a machineyincluding a plurality of pairs of male and .female forming members orrollers between Which a vstrip of metal may be fed. The maleformingmembermayhave a peripheral convex circular form and the female aconcaveperipheral form. Thus a strip of metal may be fed betWeen'themembers and bent to trough-shape."

A plurality of pairs of members maybe provided of gradually reduceddimensions so that a strip of metal fed to the first pair of membersWill be kslightly bent and Will be nally A shaped to trough formation atthe last pair of members. The strip may then bemoved from the lastpairof members over `astation` ary mandrel of substantially vthesameform as the troughshaped strip as it leaves the rollers. The strip isfed in a series of intermittent movements., a given length thereof beingpassed beneath a series of cutters With each movement. The cutters arethen open ated and a section of the strip severed after whichreciprocable dies operate to complete L the formation of the plate bybending the same about a vfinal forming memberv or mandrel. rllhesevered complete plate is then stripped from the mandrel by the passageef' succeeding plates asthe machine continues to operate. The variousforming members and dies are operated from a common source of power andin the proper timed relation as will be more fully understood byreference to the accompanying drawings in Which7 Fig. l is anelevational side View of Ithe machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan vievv ofthe machine on a reduced scale; l

Fig. 3 isa plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l; l y y Fig. 4 is asectional vievv taken on line IV-IV in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed vievv showtion six pairs of formingVrmembers as Wellias the forming dies;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a bridging or guide member; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a Vplate as discharged from themachine.

As shown in the drawing, the present example of a machine for practicingthe invention may include a bed-plate 10 suitably supported to carry thevarious movable elementsy of the machine. A pair of bearing blocks 11and 12 are mounted.longitudinally and on opposite sides ofthe bed-platein spaced relation for the disposition of forming members therebetween.v

ln the present embodi v members are provided arlthough any number may beemployed depending upon thedegree' of the bend required and thelproperties of the metal being formed. Each pair of forming members isvcomprised of anlupper grooved female rollen lnember 13 and a lower male'roller-member 14. The upper rollers are mounted on shafts 15 Vjournaledinthe bearing-blocks 11 and 12 i and the lower rollers areV mounted onshafts 16 journaled' in the said bearing-blocks.

' lt will be noted that the bearing-blocks 11 and 12 see Fig..4)arecomposed of upper v*and lower bearingfmembers 17 and 18 respectively.rEhe upper members 17 are secured to the lower' members by means Lofstuds 19 threadedly engaging the lowerv members and passing throughslots 21 inthe upper members. reason Vofthis composite bearing, therelative positions of the forming rollers may be changed as theireffective surfaces become worn. A y i Y v Each of the shafts 15 to whichthe rollermember 13 is secured is providedV with a gearwheel22. Motionis transmitted to the gear-l wheel through a secondary driving-shaft 23having gear-wheels 24 and 25 secured thereto.,` The gear-wheel 24 isdisposed between and in mesh with Vtwo of theVgear-whe'els 22 topositively drive the forming members at the last or linal bendsperformed by the rollers. Motion is translated throughoutl the remainingrollers by means of interposed idler gear wheels 26 which serve 4totransmit motion and effect a rotation of the upper forming rollers in acommon direction.

Thelower forming rollers which operate in conjunction with the upperrollers driven through gear-wheel 25 which is disposed in vwith an idlergear-Wheel 27 (see Fig. 1) in mesh with gear-Wheels 28 'and 29sefragmentary perspective View lent of the inven cured to the shaft 16which carry the lower roller members. g

It has been found necessary to drive only the last two pairs of lowerforming members although if desirable, suitable gearing may be providedto positively drive other'mem# bers. ,A strip of metal or other materialQ9 may be fed to the forming rollers direct or a series of idlerrollers31Y (see Fig. 2) maybe provided to partially shape the stripvasA it isdrawn therebetween from a spool-32. The several pairs of roller formingV,members are operated intermittently vand areV of an ac curatepredetermined diameterand maybe driven in a seriesof intermittentmovements, each movement resulting in a paritial or complete rotation ofthe roller members depending upon their diameter. --The roller ,mem-.

bers may, therefore, be moved to drive the strio 29a givendistancewitheach intermittent movement of therollers to feed the desiredlength of the formed strip to position to be severed by cutterswhichwill presently be described. N

The machine may be operatedfto effect a movement of the rollers andother various parts from any suitable source-of power as for' example amotor (not shown). If a motor is employed the same may be connected..

jto a driving pulley 33secured toa main driving-shaft 34 by a belt 35.

As illustrated in the present of the invention the shaft 34 is providedwith a worm 36 inV mesh with awOrm-Wheel 37 se-; cured to aprimarydriving-shaft 38 having a spiral-gear 39 secured theretoanddisposed in mesh with a companion-gear41. The gear 41 may be secured toa vertical shaft42 upon which Aa driving member 43 of a Geneva movementis suitably secured. The member 43 is engageable `with and drives the'slotted y member 44 of the geneva which issecured to a spindle 45having ya bevel-gear 46 at tached to its upperend. The bevel-gear-46vmay be disposed in mesh with another bevelgear 47 secured to the shaft23l which drives the several pairs of roller forming members.

An operation of the machinefcauses ythe geneva to actuate the rollermembers, causing their partial rotation to bend andV drive the strip 29through a predetermined path f and over a former-.member48 (see Fig..

lVhen the strip moves upon the former-member it is of trough or U-shapeconfiguration in transverse cross section and is moved by the rollersuntil a sufficient vlength thereof has passed between a plurality ofcutter members comprising laterally operable punches 49 and 51 and avertical punch 52.'

The member 48 in combination with the punches constitutes what may betermed a. piercing die so'that when a section ofjthe article, such Aasthe present plate, is severed from the main length a narrow stripthereof embodiment Clt essential feature in the manufacture of anarticle such as a plate for usein radiotrons, After the severingoperation, the severed sec# tion is moved by reason yof the intermittentmovement of the rollers and the following strip, to position 'over aforming die or mandrel 53 against which the flat side portions ofthe,strip are pressed by a pair of forming members 54 and 55. The mandrel 53is made ofsuch coniguration intransverse cross section that when thetrough-shape section'is bent therearound` by the forming-members, aplate 56 Will result having longitudinal flanged edges 57 provided withoppositely disposed beads 58.l The beads 58 are. posi:- tioned so thatthey cooperate to provide a tubular member 59 to receive a support 61as.

shown in Fig. 6, When the plateis positioned preparatory to use in anelectrical device.

The severing operation and the forming operation performed on thesevered strip are `accomplished substantially simultaneously. Thepunches 49 and 51 may' be'integral or suitably attachedto slide-bars 62and 63're spectively which are movablefyin suitable guides 64 and 65.Motion may be imparted to the slide-bars through a box-cam 66 fast-Vened to the primary driving-shaft 38.' The c'am'66 is engageable with apin 67 at one end of a'reciprocable connector member 68. The memberV 68is slidable on a guide 69 which may be integral With thebed-platefofthema-V chine and is connected toan arm of a lbell;-j

crank member 72 pivoted on shafts 73 and 74 suitablyl secured to thebed-plate of the machine.

The movable forming dies -54 and 55 are*l slidable between guides 75(see Figs. 3 andk 7) and are operable through a box-cam 76 secured tothe shaft 38. A connector memf ber 77 reciprocable upon a guide 78 'isprovided With a pin 79 engageable Withthe cam 76 and as shown in Fig. 7connector member 77 is pivotally attached to arms' 81and 82 ofbell-crank members 83 and-84 respectively.`

' havebifurcated ends '92' and 93 engageable with collars 94 and95threadedly connected to projections 96 and 97 integral` with theslidebars 62and 63. 1

It Will be evident that a .rotationV of the box# cams'66. and 76 Will.cause a simultaneousacf tion of the punclilesandy the reciprocableforming dies. The punnhes A49 andlt'nl lare voperated lirst to partiallysever the vtrougli-shape strip and the vertically operable punch '52.

isthen 'actuated to complete the severing operation. This punleh 52 maybe secured to or may be .integral With `a 'shank v98 s'lid'abl'e in :aguide 99 and connected by an arm 101 to a plunger 102. The plun'er maybe reciprocable in 'averti'cal guideearing 103 yand the lower en'dthereof may be provided with 'a head 104 having ia pin 105` ehgageabe'with a box-carin 106 secured to the shaft 38.

The b'o'X-ca1^ii 106 have its 'track or guide'slot so formed, ast-ac`ti1ate the plunger 192 and consequently 'tl're punch 52*"iin'medi`ateiy after the 'Gams 166 and 76 'cause the punches and forming dies17o-operate. kTt will be understood that the operation in -t'hep1`-c' pver sequential order is entirely (a ni'at'ter of ad jnstment or timing-ofthe cams or other driv- ,A

ig elm-entgthatmay beemployed.

When the 'machine is epemfed the Strip 29;

of metal -may be fed und-'er the guide-rollers 31 and thence 'totheforming Arollersvvl'iich continue to bend and drive the bent "stripthrough a rectilinear path- Suitable spacer members rguide's 107,](seeFigs'. 1l 'and.9`) may be employed ,to bridge the spacers between thelower roller ineinfbers yand`-thus stip'- port the Strip during itspassage vtherehe-v tween.

'The guides 1167 are formed with leunie-@i` portions 108 and partlyencircle the rollers 14's'o as to provide a support substantiallybetvveen the; points of contact "Off thepai-rs of. rollers. The 'striphaving passedtlie initialv forming roll-ers is' then engaged by thelast.two pairs of rollers -vvliich, in conjunctiony Witlithe 'Genevamovement, may be consideredas a 'gauge or ameas'rifng device.` v'lfhe'serollers are of equal V"dial'rreters amilinay be made of hardened steel'or other suitable long Wearing material. The rollers are driven bymeans lof thegenev'a vvin series of intermittent movements so1tha'tfea'ch"novement of the rollers'tvill drive the stripeJ distanceequal to the 1length of the a-rticle'fto -b'e severed.

lthe present -c'nf's't'ii'ction a "four` positien Geneva movement "isreinplh'yed and fthe ratio "between the ge'n'ei'av vandthe rollers Viissuch,that with each movement-ofthe@geneva each movement may beV variedeither by changing the diameters of j-the 'formingfrol-lers orV bychanging the ratio Vof theV bevelgears 46and 47;-

. l/Vhen a bent trough-shaped.strip-is 'driven forward by a movement'ofthe geneva, the

` rollers remain? at rest'vvhile the shaft 38 lac-v tuates4 the severalVcams, causing an actuation of the `punches 49and 51 to lpartially severthestrip andlat, the same time causingfanactuation of theforming diesY54and 55 to forma strip Which has previously been rpositionedtherebetween. Immediately after the punches have laterallyperforated thestrip, the lvertical-punch descends and completelysevers the same. TheneXt movement oflthefgenevarthen causesfthe strip tokbe driven, forward;and thrust.V articles .along the ymandrel 53, each movement of thestripservingto 'eject' an article from` the machine.

AThepresentinvention is believed to be an `important :step (inthemanufacture of .electrodessuch as plates or the like forradiotrons,since itcomb'ines the desired high speed with the necessaryaccuracy both as to the lineal, dimensions and the tion ofthe article,

Although a Y preferred embodiment ofthe t invention is vshown Tanddescribed herein, it 'is to be understood` vthat modifications may bemade therein Without departing fromv the spirit and scope 4of Vtheappended claims;

. What is claimed is:

vv1.7A`machine for producing aV tubular body from a stripcomprisinga`plurality of` pairs Y of oppositelyy disposed rotatable members forvengagementy with' opposite v sides of a stripgtddrive the same-througha'givenf Y path, the Contact surfaces of said pairs of.

members decreasing in area in the direction of movement of` said stripand operating to bend the strip to trough-shape and reciprocabl'eformingmembers for imparting a final bend to the strip to` produceia` tubularbody.

` VV2. A machine for producing a tubular body comprising., rollermembers for `.initially bending a; strip of. metal to trough-shape,

a plurality .of cutters, .means for ,actuating said cutters torsever asectionof 4said strip' and reciprocal members for finally` forming kthesevered section to provide a tubular bod 5o.; comprising aplurality'fofv pairs of roller I bers -3. A machine for producing atubular bo y membersl for'finiti'ally bending af Astrip of metal totrough likek form, said roller membeing of i progressively decreasingWidths, means for severing a ksection ofV said bent strip :andreciprocablemembers for i finally forming said bent section to close thetrough and produce a tubular body.

i r 4.' In a machine for producing radiotron plates, the combinationWith'roller members for initiallyl bending a striplof metal, means forintermittently actuating said members to propel saidbent strip through agiven path, cutter members disposed adjacent said path,

lmeans ffo'r" actuating f said cutter ymembers symmetric Vformato severa section from said strip, -means for performing a final bendingoperationiupon said severed section and means to produce beadedportionsthereof.vl y f .Y

- 5. In amachine for producing radiotron plates, the combination With aplurality of pairs of rotatable members for bendinga strip of metal totrough shape, means forintermittently actuating said 'members to pro,-

along the adjacent 1 edges;V Y Y. c .70,

pel, said strip through a .given path, cutter n members disposedadjacent said path, meansA for actuating said members to sever a sectionY from said strip and'meansfor shaping opposite edgesy ofl saidvtrough-shapedfsection to provide beaded flanges. i

7 -In a machine v'for producing radiotron" plates, 'the combinationwithy a plurality'of i pairs fof rotatable members-for bendinga'kstripfof metal to trough shape, means for intermittently actuating ysaidymembers to prof' pel'said strip through a given .-path,ycuttermembersdisposed adjacent said path, means` for actuating said members tosever a'sectio'nfrom said strip and reciprocable membersopl erable tobendtheedges ofsaid' troughy` shaped section together.y y

8.In la machine forfprod-ucing radiotronrfr plates, ythe combinationwith a plurality of pairs of rotatable membersV for `bending a strip ofmetal to trough shape, means for intermittently actuatingsaid members topro-y pel said strip through a given-path, cutter members disposedadjacent said path, means for actuating said membersto sever a sectionfrom said strip andl reciprocable'forming dies loperable to engage theedges `of said ytrough-shaped 'section land bend thesame to# gether 'inthe .form of beaded anges. l

9. Ina machine for'producing radiotronl plates comprising formingrollers operable intermittently to bend and propel a strip of i metal apredetermined distance through a given path, cutter 'members disposedadjacent said pathl operable after 'each'intermib tent Vmovement`offsaid roller members to sever a section of the strip equal inlength'to the distance moved by said members and the Y means forperforming a final bending 'opera` tion to produce to tubular body.

" lOIn aV machine forproducing radiotron plates comprising formingVrollers 'operable intermittently to bendV and vpropel a strip of metalapredetermined' distance through a? given path, cutter members disposedadjacent said path operable after each intermittent movement of saidroller members to sever a section of the strip equalV in length to thedistance moved by said members andreciprocable members operable to bendthe edges of the severed strip to flanged form.

11. In a machine for producing radiotro-n plates comprising formingrollers operable intermittently to bend and propel a strip of metal apredetermined distance through a given path, cutter members disposedadjacent said path operable after each intermittent movement of saidroller members to sever a section of the strip equal in length to thedistance moved by said members and reciprocable members operable to bendopposite edges of said strip together.

12. In a machine for producing radiotron plates comprising formingrollers operable intermittently to bend and propel a strip of metal apredetermined distance through a given path, cutter members disposedadjacent said path operable .after each intermittent movement of saidroller members to sever a section of the strip equal in length to thedistance moved by said members, a mandrel and reciprocable forming diesoperable to bend the edges of said strip to provide adjacent beadedflanges to receive a support member.

13. A machine for forming tubular bodies from a metallic stripcomprising means for moving a strip through a given path, means forinitially forming the strip to troughshape, means for making apluralityof cuts in said trough in a plane transverse Vto the path of movement ofthe strip to partially sever the same, means for completing the severingoperation to produce a troughshaped section, and means for shaping saidsection to tubular form.

14. A machine for making a radiotro plate comprising means forintermittently moving a strip of metal a predetermined distance, meansfor bending the strip longitudinally during such movement, means forsevering the strip after each movement thereof and means operablesynchronously With the severing means for performing a final bendingoperation upon the severed section.

15. A machine for making a radiotro-n plate comprising means forintermittently moving and bending a strip of metal to trough-shape,severing means for removing a section from said strip, presser membersfor shaping the severed section and means for substantiallysimultaneously actuating the cutter members and the forming members toproduce a plate.

16. The method of forming a radiotron plate which consists in shaping astrip of metal to trough-shape, moving the troughshaped strip apredetermined distance, temporarily terminating such movement, severingthe strip to remove a piece therefrom equal in length to the distancethrough which the same has moved, A moving the troughshaped piece over aforming die and shaping the iece by pressing against the die.

1 The method of making a plate for radiotrons which consists in moving astrip of metal a predetermined distance, shaping the strip during suchmovement, positioning a section of the strip equal in length to theabovementioned distance through which it has moved adjacent to aformingmember, the transverse cross-section of which is the same as thatdesired in the linished plate, terminating the movement of saidstrip,.severing said section of the strip and pressing the same againstsaid forming member. n

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 15thday of June 1925.

HARRY DE FOREST MADDEN. JOSEPH KIRBY.

